The flower stems may become leggy and flop if grown in rich soils or too much shade. Plants can be sheared in late spring, removing up to half the height of the plant, to keep plants smaller. Gaura has few pest problems. ... Cut back the flower spikes in fall and remove all dead foliage the following spring.

When should I cut back Gaura?

Gaura plants that are older and well-established, such as over two years old, may become a large clump of ratty stems. If you wish to prune back the large plant to tidy it up or prevent it from crowding out nearby perennials, clip it back in early spring and again in early summer after the first flowering flush ends.

How do you prune a Gaura plant?

In mid-June or early July, cut back by 1/2 to 2/3. Gaura responds to continued shearing by making producing a deep green foliage in 10” -12” mounds. Flowering will commence shortly after shearing stops. Make sure to cut the plants to the ground in mid-February leading into spring.